The cloud computing is a relatively new concept, that may sound like a mystery to those who operate outside the industry, but it has become part of everyday life for everyone.
The term cloud, “new”, can lead many people astray. What does it mean? That the stored data floats in the sky on a cloud? Maybe more than someone has asked himself these questions with a slightly doubtful face and a raised eyebrow.
Cloud computing is growing in both popularity and influence , so we thought we’d put together everything you need to know about it to give you the foundation to build your business on.
For cloud computing means the act of storing and accessing data through the internet , rather than from the hard drive of your computer.
In short, “cloud” is just another way to describe the internet.
Cloud computing has nothing to do with the hard drive, that is local computing , which is the act of storing and accessing data via the hard drive of the computer.
For decades, local computing has been the way information was stored and accessed. Only recently has we moved to the cloud where data and programs must be accessible via the internet and therefore synchronized.
In this sector you can find companies that implement different services, three main ones:
SaaS (Software as a Service)
PaaS (Platform as a Service)
IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)
SaaS companies provide software, such as SalesForce.com.
Platform as a Service (PaaS) companies provide platforms, such as Google App Engine and Windows Azure.
Finally, IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) lease their infrastructure to smaller companies. Examples include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cisco Metapod, and Microsoft Azure.
Email, music, documents, calendars, applications, photos, videos, and data storage and backups can be accessed and managed through cloud computing.
The great revolution is precisely this, before you could only access data stored on your computer’s hard drive, now you can do it from any computer with an internet connection.
You are wondering: that’s all?
Well, on the cloud there would be much more, but, as mentioned, for now let’s worry about the base, the one you take for granted every day when you work or use your mobile phone.
